Mythical Three Kingdoms

"Forget it, let's not talk about this. Initially, I was worried that Zhou Yu would need three days to mobilize his troops, but now it turns out he doesn't. So we must run quickly. As long as Zhou Yu's navy isn't in the Huai River at the time, we can change route toward Zhongli!" Fa Zheng laughed heartily.

"Zhongli..." A glint of sharpness flickered in Gan Ning's eyes, as he already understood what Fa Zheng intended to do.

"Cutting off supply lines—is that more exhilarating than personally crushing an army of one hundred thousand?" Fa Zheng said with great passion and looked directly at Gan Ning.

"If I dare to trample a camp with just a hundred riders, why wouldn't I dare to charge into an army of one hundred thousand with three thousand soldiers?" Gan Ning laughed loudly in response as he looked at Fa Zheng.

"So let's run quickly. Run far enough, and Zhou Yu will no longer prioritize wiping us out. Hurry up and retreat." Fa Zheng laughed again. As long as Zhou Yu doesn't bring his navy to attack them, Fa Zheng felt confident leading three thousand troops to raid the Yuzhou Army's rear. What Fa Zheng and Gan Ning shared was a deep love for ingenious strategies!

"All forces, retreat toward the Huai River!" Gan Ning roared with laughter.

Although Gan Ning was aware of the incredible risks in Fa Zheng's plan—so much that a single misstep might lead them into catastrophe—he could distinctly feel the excitement welling up in his heart.

Somehow, whenever he faced dangerous circumstances, seeking miracle-like victories, Gan Ning experienced an uncontrollable exhilaration. At such moments, his overwhelmingly excited heart and unusually calm mind worked together in perfect harmony!

Fighting battles that teetered between miraculous triumph and absolute ruin filled him with fascination. This opportunity to personally carve a piece of history made him feel every cell in his body crying out with ecstatic enthusiasm.

Similarly, Fa Zheng was a fan of ingenious strategies. His schemes weren't suited for cautious generals to implement, but paired with someone extraordinary like Gan Ning—cool and composed on the surface but wild and crazed at heart—their collaboration was perfection incarnate.

Gan Ning possessed his own intellect, forming judgments on all situations. Otherwise, after walking the edge of danger so many times, he would have long since fallen. Yet he consistently achieved victories that felt like great miracles.

Thinking of the three thousand troops under his command, who were about to accomplish an extraordinary feat, Gan Ning trembled with excitement.

If Guan Yu lived to embody loyalty and righteousness, and Zhuge Liang lived to showcase wisdom,

Then Gan Ning lived to savor the very essence of being alive—dancing on the edge of life and death, bearing the fates of countless lives, and betting with his own against impossible odds to gift victory to all who believed in him.

After Fa Zheng's retreat, though Zhou Yu might still have concerns due to Sun Ce, Zhuge Jin's spiritual talent revealed that Fa Zheng had bluffed him. However, at this moment, what mattered more to Zhou Yu wasn't Fa Zheng but Sun Ce in Jingyi.

"Are we sure we're not going after Fa Zheng?" Zhuge Jin frowned and asked. "Our navy is near Shouchun. Going downstream, we have a very high chance of blocking their escape route. Besides, Jingzhou still has Yuantan and the others, and General Hann surely wouldn't allow anything to happen to our lord. Why should you rush?"

"It's not about rushing. Going downstream is fast, but it doesn't guarantee cutting off Gan Ning and Fa Zheng. You didn't witness the naval battle on the Yangtze River back then. While I am superior to Gan Ning in naval command, defeating him quickly is impossible. Blocking them has a high chance of success, but capturing..." Zhou Yu pressed his lips in thought and glanced at Zhuge Jin, his meaning clear.

Zhuge Jin, upon seeing Zhou Yu's expression, understood that Zhou Yu had already made up his mind. He also had to admit that Zhou Yu's reasoning was sound. Blocking Fa Zheng wasn't difficult; capturing him was significantly more complex. Without capturing Fa Zheng or Gan Ning, there wouldn't be much value in targeting their vice army. Thus, Zhuge Jin no longer suggested eliminating Fa Zheng and Gan Ning's forces.

"Ziyu, I will personally lead the army to Jingzhou today. The rest is entrusted to your care. If North Huai River can be counterattacked, do so. If not, secure the survival of the ten thousand veteran soldiers attacking Xuzhou. Save as many as you can." Zhou Yu, seeing Zhuge Jin stop speaking, began issuing orders.

"There are no issues regarding this. Although we've lost the Yangtze River navy and the difficulty of crossing south from Xuzhou has increased, saving thirty thousand elite soldiers is still feasible. However, it's a pity about all that armor and weaponry." Zhuge Jin replied calmly. Liu Bei's benevolence was acknowledged throughout the realm by the Feudal Lords, and he would never commit acts such as killing captives.

"It's just equipment!" Zhou Yu shook his head. Yuan Shu might not excel in many aspects, but his stockpile of supplies was abundant. Yuzhou was the Yuan Family's stronghold, and they'd been amassing resources for decades. Armor and weapons were not in short supply. "Besides, Liu Xuande might not even want them."

"Reforming and downsizing the military should still be considered in the future." Zhuge Jin, recalling the elite soldiers he had seen at Mount Tai, nodded in agreement.

As for abandoning North Huai River, Zhuge Jin felt a pang of regret but didn't find it unbearable. Losing North Huai River wasn't too damaging to Yuan Shu's forces; it was more like a flesh wound than a broken bone.

When Yuzhou was first attacked by Liu Bei, many scholars were relocated. Later, when Yuan Shu returned to Runan, he moved the governance seat from Runan to Shouchun as a precautionary measure. While Zhou Yu considered this step a poor strategic move, Yuan Shu's population migration during that time included numerous relocations to South Huai River.

Of course, Yuzhou remained prosperous. Even after being disrupted by Liu Bei and Yuan Shu, North Huai River still housed nearly two million citizens—far denser than the unlucky Yanzhou.

"We'll discuss military reform later. If possible, I hope we can issue a Talent Recruitment Order. Take this—it's my sword." Zhou Yu handed his sword to Zhuge Jin.

"Uh, what's this for? As for the Talent Recruitment Order, that requires Yuan Gong's approval. We should avoid conflict with Yuan Gong for now." Zhuge Jin accepted Zhou Yu's sword with a puzzled expression. He had no need to use such objects to solidify his authority. In Sun Ce's entourage, Zhuge Jin occupied a status akin to Lub Su at Mount Tai—past the point of relying on others' reputation for support.

"This sword isn't for you. It's for you to deliver to one of the generals attacking Xuzhou. It belongs to Bofu's subordinate." Zhou Yu shook his head, knowing that Zhuge Jin wouldn't need such items.

"Deliver it to a general attacking Xuzhou?" Zhuge Jin paused briefly, quickly grasping Zhou Yu's intention. His expression turned slightly peculiar as he looked at Zhou Yu—this man indeed wasn't simple.

Yuan Shu had now delegated power to Sun Ce, but Zhou Yu had never intended to rely on others, entertaining covert ambitions to seize control. However, by opting for peaceful strategies, Zhou Yu hadn't yet revealed his hidden cards.

"Exactly what you're imagining." Zhou Yu said gruffly, "Hand this sword to Li Tong and Li Wenda, directly delegate authority to them, letting them take command of the Yuzhou Army. Shift the focus away from Xuzhou, preparing for retreat toward Eastern Wu." (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, please visit Qidian.com to vote for recommendations and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com for reading.)